Staff

How to Build a Weekly Staff Rota

A free employee schedule template is the week you post before anyone clocks in. Harbor Goods used the week of March 2, 2026. Four people are on the rota. Hours are numbers, such as 8 for a full day. Pay is not calculated here.

Free employee schedule template Excel

The free employee schedule template Excel file adds scheduled hours in a green column. That is the only total you should read. Type 0 for a day off so a blank is not mistaken for a forgotten shift. Nobody in the sample works every day.

The same workbook opens in Google Sheets. Add a person by inserting a row and extending the totals.

Rota, timesheet, payroll

After the week, actual hours go on the free Excel timesheet template. Money goes on the free payroll template. Luis Ortega can be on the rota and still be left out of a pay run. Do not assume every name on the schedule is in the same paycheck. Open jobs that are not shifts belong on the free Excel task tracker.

  1. Download the free employee schedule template.
  2. Type hours for each day. Use 0 for a day off.
  3. Read the green hour total.
  4. Keep pay on the payroll file.
  • Leaving a cell blank and calling it a day off.
  • Typing a wage in the hours column.
  • Paying from the rota before the timesheet is checked.

Download the free employee schedule template. More staff guides are on the blog.

Common questions

Is this employee schedule template free?

Yes. The free employee schedule template is a weekly rota for Excel and Google Sheets.

How do I mark a day off?

Type 0. A blank can look like a forgotten shift.

Does the rota calculate pay?

No. It adds scheduled hours. Use the payroll template when you turn hours into pay.